Shower head brush



` Sept.' 29, 1936. (3, F A55|U$ l2,055,813

sHowER HEAD BRUSH Filed Sept. 6, 1934 fizzle/Zidi 57 /Z (Zande 'azws V E? WMM/VWM@ Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE `SHOWER. HEAD BRUSH Claude F. Cassius, St. Louis, Mo. Application September 6, 1934, Serial No. 742,898

` 2 claims. (ci. 15-165) 'I'his invention relates to new and useful improvements in brushes for shower heads.

In use, the inner side of the perforated plate of the shower head becomes covered with a de- 5 posit or scale which closes the apertures in said plate. Therefore, frequent cleaning of the shower heads is necessaryto remove this scale and keep the apertures in the shower head open. The usual practice is to remove the perforate plate l which is generally screw-threaded on the head and to scrape oif the scale from-said plate. However, the removal of the plate generally destroys the rubber gasket which is used to provide a Water-tight joint between the plate and the head l and thus a new'gasket is required every time the plate is removed. Where a large number of shower heads are used, as in Y. M. C. A. buildings and in various clubs, the replacement of the gaskets is a considerable expense and the time required to disassemble and clean each shower head is considerable and increases' the cost of maintenance.v

The objects of the present invention are to provide a brush which can be easily inserted into the shower head through the neck portion thereof and which can be manipulated to remove the scale from the inner side of the perforate plate without the necessity of removing the latter from the head.

3o Y Other objects of the invention are to provide a brush for shower heads, which brush consists of two sections -hinged together Vand so constructed that the bristlel section of said brush can be inserted into said shower head and placed in a position at right angle to the shank section with the bristles presented downwardly against the inner side of the shower' head plate whereby, upon the manipulation Vof 4said shank section, the bristle section is operated over the inner surface of said plate to remove the scale deposit there- Additional objects of the invention are to provide a brush oi the character described which is of simple but durable construction, is highly efficient in performing its intended functions, and can be economically manufactured.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of con- 50 struction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through a shower head showing my improved brush in 55 position therein.

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross section taken on line 2-2 of Figurel.

Figure 3 is a. horizontal cross section taken on line 3-3'of Figure 1. Y. Figure 4 is an enlarged detail cross section of the lower end of said brush and showing in dotted lines the position of the bristle section when not in use.

Figure 5 is a fragmental detail view'showlng'a modied form of the brush. Y 1

Figure 6 is another detail view of same.

Figure 7 is a fragmental detail cross section showing a modied form of a plug.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, I0 indicates a shower head, which-lconl5 sists of two pieces', namely, a body portion II and a perforate plate I2. The body portion II is bellshaped in cross section and has a restricted end or neck portion, as indicated at I4, provided with an internalscrew head I5 vfor attachment to a 20 suitable pipe connection (not shown). The'opposite or flared-out end I 6 of said body. portion I I is provided with an external screw-thread I'I.

y The perforate plate I2'is provided with an upwardly presented annular flange I8- which is 25 formed with an vinternal screw-thread 'I9 for engaging the externally screw-threaded .portion I1 of body portion I I. A gasket 20,0f rubber is preferably used between the end IB and plate I2to insure a water-tight joint. v:

Preferably the outer shape of the neck portion I4 is non-circular in cross section to facilitate the securement tothe pipe connection.

When the shower head is in use, the inner side of plate I2 becomes coated with scale or incrusta- 35 tions, due to the minerals'contained in the water and to the action of heat when hotwater is used. The result is that most of the perforations in plate I2 soon become closed, thereby rendering the shower head unfit for use. As stated before, 4,0v

heretofore it has been necessary to remove plate I2 in order to scrape off the scale'from the inner surface thereof.

The invention consists of a brush 2I so constructed that it can be readily inserted into the 45 shower head through the neck portion I4, whereupon the bristle section can be positioned against the inner surface of said plate and manipulated to loosen the scale without disassembling the plate from its position on thehead.

This brush comprises a shank section 22 and a bristle section 24. The length of the bristle section is substantially equivalent to the inner radius of plate I2. The two sections 22 and 24 are hingedly connected together, as indicated at 25, in such a manner that the bristle section can move into a position substantially at right angle to the shank section 22 with the bristles 26 presented downwardly against the plate I2.

Stop means are provided to prevent the bristle section 24 from moving upwardly beyond its horizontal or right-angled position so that said bristles 26 can be pressed against the inner surface of the plate by applying pressure to the shank section 22.

In the preferred form, this stop means consists of a square shoulder 21 formed on the end of shank section 22 by ears 28. This shoulder is engaged by the upper face 29 of the bristle section 24 near the hinged end thereof so that the upward movement of said bristle section is limited to right-angled position.

A collar 30 is adjustably fixed on the shank portion 22 by means of a set screw 3I. This collar has an outside diameter slightly less than the'diameter of the internally screw-threaded portion I of the neck end I4 so as to iit loosely thereinto and form a bearing for the brush when actuated. The upper end of this collar is formed with a flange 32 which, when the collar is properly adjusted, bears against the outer end of the neck portion I4 when the brush section 24 occupies horizontal position with the bristles thereof pressed against the inner surface of plate I2.

The shank portion 22 terminates in a handle 34 by means of which the brushes can be manipulated. The forward end of the brush section 24 is tapered, as indicated at 24a, to provide clearance between the lower end of the body portion lI I and said bristle section and the bristles at said forward end extend forwardly and obliquely, as'indicated at 26a so as to clean the plate I2 adjacent to the lower end of the body portion II.

In order to prevent the brush 24 from turning in the shower head IIJ, in a direction opposite to that shown, the pivotal end of brush 24 has one corner finished square as indicated at 24h. This corner engages the square shoulder 21 of shank 22 when said brush is disposed coaxially with said shank, as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 4, and prevents said brush from moving past this position.

In the modified form shown in Figures 5 and 6, the shank portion 35 is formed near its lower end with a lateral lug 36 which bears against the upper face of brush 31 when the latter occupies horizontal position. Thus pressure can be applied to the brush through the shank with minimum danger of injury to the pivot. Preferably, this lug has formed integral therewith a pair of ears 38 which extend downward to each side of the brush'and relieve the pivot of lateral strain.

In the modied form shown in Figure 7, a plug 32a is provided having an externally screwthreaded portion 39 for engagement with the internally threaded portion I5 of member I3.

Shank 40 is provided with a collar 4I adjustably fixed thereon below plug 32a.

A coiled expansion spring 42 is interposed on said shank between said plug 32a and collar 4I. When said plug is secured in position in the shower head, spring 42 is compressed, thereby automatically placing the brush under the required pressure against the perforate plate I2.

My improved shower head brush is of simple construction, can be easily applied in position and operated, and is highly eiiicient in performing its intended functions.

While I have disclosed herein the preferred forms of my invention, it is to be understood that other changes can be made in the brush without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a brush for cleaning shower heads, the combination of a shank section having a handle at one end, a bristle section pivotally connected at one end to the other end of said shank section and movable into a radial position relative thereto, means on the interengaged ends of said section for preventing said bristle section from moving past the radial position, a collar adjustably mounted on said shank section, said collar having a reduced portion adapted to fit within the opening of the neck portion of a shower head and having an enlargement adapted to bear against the outer end of said neck portion whereby said collar forms a bearing for said shank section, and means for securing said collar in adjusted position on said shank section, whereby the length of the'shank section insertable into the shower head can be regulated.

2. In a brush for cleaning the interior of shower heads, the combination of a shank section having a handle at one end and having an apertured end at the other end, there being a horizontal shoulder formed on said shank section in spaced relation with said aperture, a bristle section provided with bristles on one side and having one end apertured and pivotally connected to the apertured end of said shank section, one corner of said apertured end of said bristle section being rounded out and the other formed square whereby said bristle section is movable from a vertical position into a radial and horizontal position in one direction only and is held against movement in opposite direction by the engagement of said square corner with said horizontal shoulder, and a collar adjustably fixed on said shank section in spaced relation with said bristle section, said collar being provided with a reduced portion extending into the internally threaded interior of said neck portion of said shower head, said collar having a radial iiange adapted to bear against the end of said ring and form a bearing for said brush and limit the movement of said shank into said shower head.

CLAUDE F. CASSIUS. 

